There
are many different thyroid disorders that exist. The most common ones
include: Graves' disease,
Hashimoto's disease, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, thyroid cancer,
and thyroiditis.
An employer must consider
the functional limitations that an individual with a thyroid disorder
displays. First, one must determine the areas in which the employee
is having difficulty. What is it specifically that the employee cannot
do? Is the performance problem related to the disability? Once the
problematic area(s) have been identified, then the employer needs
to ask how the job can be modified, or what assistive devices can
be purchased to allow the person to perform the essential functions
of his/her job.
Key Terms Used to Describe
a Specific Thyroid Disorder:
Hashimoto's Disease: Hashimoto's disease appears to be an inherited
condition and is also known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis. It
is most common in women who are between 30 and 50 years of age. With
Hashimoto's Disease, the immune system attacks the thyroid gland in
the neck, prohibiting it from producing hormones. Symptoms of Hashimoto's
Disease are feelings of fullness/tightness in throat, trouble swallowing,
swelling or bump in the front of the neck, tiredness, forgetfulness,
depression, coarse dry skin, slow heartbeat, weight gain, constipation
and intolerance to cold. Many people have no symptoms at all.
Hyperthyroidism: Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which the
thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone. It is 8 to 10 times
more common in women than in men and is the 3rd most common thyroid
problem in the US. Graves'
disease is the most common form of hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism
can mimic other health problems, making it difficult to diagnose.
It can also cause a wide variety of symptoms including sudden weight
loss, rapid or irregular heartbeat, nervousness, anxiety, irritability,
tremors, sweating, changes in menstrual patterns, increased sensitivity
to heat, change in bowel patterns, an enlarged thyroid gland at base
of neck, fatigue, muscle weakness, and difficulty sleeping.
Hypothyroidism: Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the
thyroid gland produces too little thyroid hormone. The most common
cause of low thyroid production is Hashimoto's Disease, which is an
autoimmune disease. The symptoms of hypothyroidism vary widely, depending
on the severity of the hormone deficiency and develop slowly over
years. Symptoms include increased sensitivity to cold, constipation,
dry skin and hair, puffy face, hoarse voice, elevated cholesterol
level, unexplained weight gain, muscle cramps, pain and stiffness
in joints, muscle weakness, heavier menstrual periods, tiredness,
and depression.
Thyroid Cancer: Thyroid
cancer is a cancerous tumor or growth located within the thyroid gland.
Thyroid cancer is uncommon, accounting for only about 1 out of every
100 cancers in the United States. Thyroid cancer is often discovered
by patients themselves when they see or feel a nodule or lump on the
front of the neck.
Thyroiditis: Thyroiditis is a general term used to describe
different disorders in which the thyroid gland becomes inflamed.
Accommodations for individuals
with thyroid disorders:
Managing fatigue: An individual with a thyroid disorder may
benefit from a flexible work schedule, liberal use of leave time,
working from home, a reduction of physical exertion and workplace
stress, scheduled rest breaks away from the workstation, and ergonomic
workstation design.
Managing restroom breaks: An individual with a thyroid disease
may benefit from a flexible schedule to incorporate restroom breaks,
a workstation closer to the restroom, a change in job assignment
to a job that allows flexible breaks, and work from home during
flareups.
Managing temperature sensitivity: An individual with a thyroid
disease may need accommodations to manage temperature sensitivity.
To do so, work-site temperature may need to be modified. The individual
might benefit from wearing cooling
clothing or heated
clothing, maintaining the ventilation system, redirecting air
and heating vents, having a fan or heater at the workstation, flexible
scheduling, modified dress code, and/or work from home during hot/cold
weather.
Organizations
